Blog for all health-conscious: Fooducate Blog - Senior Coke Exec: We Don’t Believe in Empty Calories. We Believe in Hydration

Monday 11 June 2012

Fooducate Blog - Senior Coke Exec: We Don’t Believe in Empty Calories. We Believe in Hydration

Senior Coke Exec: We Don’t Believe in Empty Calories. We Believe in Hydration

Posted: 11 Jun 2012 05:08 AM PDT

photo: TreeHugger

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Katie Bayne is an Atlanta mother of 2 children, and a busy executive. She is the President & General Manager, Sparkling Beverages, Coca-Cola North America. And she has some advice for us on how to fit Coke products into our lives.

photo: Coca Cola

Bayne was recently interviewed by USA Today. The context – New York’s large soda ban, childhood obesity, and the contribution of the beverage industry to the matter. This interview is a “gem”, and you should read it in its entirety, but here are a few excerpts:

Sugary drinks can be a part of any diet as long as your calories in balance with the calories out. Our responsibility is to provide drink in all the sizes that consumers might need.

Coke as a pick-me-up:

There is a large portion of the population that relies on the carbohydrates and energy in our regular beverages. When my son gets home from school, he needs a pick-up with calories and great taste.

Coke’s Religion:

We don’t believe in empty calories. We believe in hydration.

Coke vs. milk and water for kids and teens:

Teens should get a healthy diet through food and beverage choices throughout the day.

(Thanks for not answering the questions…)

On how much Coke should a kid drink a day:

We don’t make recommendations on what kids should drink. But a 12-ounce can of Coke has 140 calories, the same as a lunch-box-size bag of pretzels.

If my son has lacrosse practice for three hours, we go straight to McDonald’s and buy a 32-ounce Powerade.

(Thank goodness for McDonalds!)

On her daily hydration habit:

I might have a mini Diet Coke while cooking breakfast for my family. After the kids leave for school, I go for a run and then have a Powerade Zero. At work I may have a Diet Coke in the morning and in the afternoon, Gold Peak Tea. In the middle of the afternoon, I may have an 8-ounce Coke. I’d rather have that than a candy bar or cookie for a pick-me-up.

‘Nuf said.

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